Assets case: Mopidevi sent to judicial custody till June 7

A Central Bureau of Investigation court in Hyderabad sent Andhra Pradesh Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao to judicial custody till June 7 even as he applied for bail on health grounds.

Mopidevi was arrested on May 24 in connection with the disproportionate assets case involving YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

After completion of the five-day custody period, the central agency produced Mopidevi in Hyderabad before the special CBI court which sent him to judicial custody till June 7, following which he was taken to Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, the court allowed Mopidevi's plea seeking special prisoner status under the AP prison rules.

In its remand report, the CBI had earlier alleged that the minister approved the cabinet memorandum containing proposals for awarding of the VANPIC project by withholding many important aspects related to it such as total extent of land decided for the project.

The CBI was permitted to interrogate him as it sought to ascertain information in connection with the allegation that there were various violations and several government orders were issued for alienation of over 15,000 acres of land in favour of VANPIC Projects Private Limited.

In his bail plea moved through his counsel, Mopidevi said he was suffering from high blood-pressure and other ailments. He said he had a brain stroke in 2006, for which he was hospitalised and his continuation in remand will affect his health.

Mopidevi's counsel submitted that his client was falsely implicated in the case and said the entire processing of files was done in routine course of business. "It was duly approved by the then chief minister (late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy) and all rules relating to circulation of files were duly followed", the counsel said.